Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa
The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called on Nigerians to see their diversity as their strength, saying the country would be stronger together as one indivisible entity.
The revered royal father stated this in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, yesterday, while inaugurating a 10.2km Glory Drive dual carriageway project by the Governor Douye Diri administration.
He urged those struggling for leadership position not to force themselves on the people, saying it was only God that gives power and could also take it away without notice.
He said: “Somebody will wonder why bringing somebody far away from Sokoto to Bayelsa to Commission a road project, there are too many things there to talk about if we have to spend a whole day to talk about it, one; it is not just a road but very iconic and historical road, and it takes long time and a lot of money to build.
“There is a need for us to be together as one big family, why bring somebody far away from Sokoto to Bayelsa, because this is one Nigeria, we are stronger together, our diversity is our strength, we are all here today as one family, different tribes, but we are all together and when a leader is doing right thing, you will see it through the faces and action of the followers, and I believe the governor is doing the right thing.
“I pray the governor of Bayelsa State do more for the people of the state, work for the people who put you in leadership position and not for them to work for you, you are their servant and they are not your servants.
“So, I want to call on the people of Bayelsa to continue to show support, pray for the leaders, when a leader is doing well, support him so that he will do more, when he is doing wrong please correct him, don’t think because he is your leader, he cannot be corrected, nobody is above mistake, leaders make mistakes more than the followers because they are on top there and thing they in in comfort zone.
“A leader must consult before taking decision, myself and the governor of Bayelsa State will continue to work together for the peace and harmony of our people, our diversity is our strength, let’s continue to help one another.”
He added: “We want peace in our society, please no matter what happened, don’t force yourself on the people, try to be peaceful in your approaches in life, only God gives power to whom he wants, and he will take away too from you without warning you, that is why we pray for peace in Bayelsa State, we pray for peace in Nigeria and peace in the world, we thank God for this.
“I like to thank the good people of Bayelsa State for inviting and receiving us, and we thank Allah for making us to accept this invitation, and bring us here safely. Such work like this is what you are doing to take the burden of leadership from your shoulders by providing this road for people to use in happy mood.
“I want to assure you that the governor will do much more and will be part of the success story of the future of Bayelsa State, so that when the history of Bayelsa is written and name of Douye Diri is written, they will say yes, one time he brought the Sultan of Sokoto, who is by the grace of God the chairman of National Council of Traditional Rulers, who happened to be by the grace of God the leader of the millions of Muslims in Nigeria and sub Saharan Africa and who by the grace of God the co-chairman of Nigeria inter-religious Council which we are teaming up with Christian leaders to make peace prevail in our communities.
“I think it is important to us to know that inviting people from faraway place to come and see what we are doing,” he added.
The road which stretched from Igbogene through several communities and eventually terminates at Tombia in the Yenagoa city centre, was conceptualised by former President Goodluck Jonathan when he was governor of the state.
In his remarks, Douye Diri vowed that his administration would never play politics with development of the state, noting that the Glory Drive project was not only for supporters of PDP, APC or Labour Party but for the generality of the people.
Diri noted that upon assuming office in 2020, he decided to re-award the road contract to the Chinese construction giant, CCECC.
“We are bringing development to every area in Bayelsa State. Even development and shared prosperity are the defining characteristics of our government of prosperity.
“We know that in the absence of peace and harmony, sustainable prosperity cannot be guaranteed. We have endeavoured as a government to foster peace and reconciliation. I often said that those who will kill and maim in their desperate quest to gain political power cannot mean well for you.
“Development and peace are like Siamese twins. Development and peace are inseparable. Where there is no peace, there will be no development, and where there is no development there will be no peace.”
Also, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Moses Teibowei, stated that the project was constructed at the cost of N30 billion.
